Shipping to Canada - MISLEADING!

[canuck88]

As a Canadian I've been pretty skeptical about placing book orders with US companies because of the ridiculous brokerage fees charged (ie. with Blurb, UPS charges $29 brokerage on a $100 order - almost 30%!).

But I recently placed 2 orders for 2 books each (total of 4 books), primarily because of this statement on the shipping page:

"NEW: Customers do not have to pay brokerage fees. Courier brokerage fees are included in our shipping cost. The recipient is responsible for any additional taxes, duties or other customs fees charged by the Canadian government upon delivery."

Well, imagine my surprise when I get a delivery notice today telling me that I owe $27.10 for the 2 orders ($13.55/each). I called Fedex and asked them for a breakdown of the fees - and for each order they were:

$3.05 taxes
$10.50 processing fee

When I asked the customer service rep "what's the processing fee", she told me that it's basically a brokerage fee to clear the package across the border?!!

I said - "there must be some mistake - the shipper clearly states on their website that brokerage fees are included in the shipping fee" to which she replied "Nope, they're not".

So, either Mypublisher is full of crap, or Fedex is not honouring their agreement with Mypublisher.

Either way, it's misleading and frankly I want my $21.00 in brokerage fees back...

Just though I would let others in Canada know to watch out.

[mypublisher]

Hello - I am very sorry about that. I will verify with FedEx what in fact, that all means. Their processing fee is most likely duties/customs fee, although I will verify that. I can assure you it is not MyPublisher that is making money on Canadian shipping. I am very sorry for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[drtbone]

I wish I would of read the forums before I made my order, I too was charged a "processing fee". I will never order from this company again, I hate, hate, hate brokerage fees. I only hope other people read this forum before ordering.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[hsp]

I had an order delivered around Aug 11, 2008 and I too was charged that 13 dollars and was not thrilled ...

You "myPublisher" need to RETURN everyone's money either in equvalent amount of product during purchase and get yourself another shipper ...

Would you like a class-action lawsuit that will force you to pay back everypenny ... and then some...

I need to exactly for how long have you placed that Item "NEW" ... no brokerage fees. I was told that I had to pay to accept my order ...

I teach at an art college ... and have informed all of my students about your "misleading" policy ... and they have been told to look for others like BLURB .. which doesn't charge .. I had an order with them and no charges from them.

Regards,

HSP
CANADA

[katincan]

Has this issue been resolved yet? I am working on a photobook using Mypublisher and I am almost ready to order. I do not want to have any surprises i.e. extra expenses, when I receive my book. I will start a new photobook using another service if this is still an on-going issue.

[katincan]

Still wondering????

[gypsy1]

I just received my first order, of 6 photo books. I'm delighted with the quality, etc., HOWEVER - FedEx is gouging me too! We in Canada expect to pay our GST tax on orders coming here, but my bill from FedEx included a $10.00 additional charge. The driver advised me that it was for "paperwork". What the HECK is that about? And why is such a charge not included in the MyPublisher shipping charges? I want to continue ordering books, but this raises some economical concerns! The landed cost of each of the photobooks is now $18.61!!! And that's with the 40% discount. I'm not happy with this at all. Any answers??? Somebody???

[gypsy1]

On May 2, MyPublisher promised to look into these bogus FedEx charges being levied against us Canadians. We're getting just a bit upset - this is more than a mere inconvenience! Can you please comment, or clarify what this is about? Or better yet, please make it stop!! Thanks.

[katincan]

I really wish someone would answer this question. I was working on another project to send to My Publisher but I think I am going to send it to Blacks. They did a really nice photobook for me before.

[dasani]

Please if the mod of this forum would kindly address to this issue, I'd really appreicate it.

[corporallouis]

Why don't a few contact their M.P.'s and ask what the hell this is all about with Fedex. I think somewhere this might go against the grain with the NAFTA agreement on goods made in the U.S.! If the shoe were on the other foot it would get straightened out rather quickly methinks. M.P. probably has all the paperwork in place and these bandits just use that and stick "their" pound of flesh onto the bill. I understand we have to pay the GST etc. but being charged Customs and a fee for being screwed over irks me also. I dare say a letter or a call from even M.P. would go a long way in getting this thievery fixed. Something is radically wrong somewhere when the shipper says fees are included and some other jackass charges you the fee. There's two ends to this stick. Somebody has to blink.

[mypublisher]

Hi All,

Unfortunately, we do not have any control over what the Canadian government charges for custom duties or other taxes. Sometimes photobooks are not marked for taxes and sometimes they are, so it really seems to depend on the customs agent checking in the imports at the time your photo books enter Canada. We are verry sorry for this inconvenience, however unfortunately we lack the ability to waive these fees.

Because these fees vary so much, it is impossible for us to predict what you will be charged.

The customer is responsible for all taxes and import duties on international orders.

The photo book shipments to Canada are scheduled to arrive in 3-5 business days via FedEx - Canada Express, which can also be tracked. This method also eliminates unknown, and often unexpected, brokerage fees which could occur under other shipping methods. Our shipping method includes this expense in the pricing.

We are truly sorry for this inconvenience.

Sincerely,

MyPublisher

[corporallouis]

This is NOT a customs duty or any form of tax . . is a "brokerage" fee charged by Fedex themselves. Either they have you folks misinformed as to what the brokerage charges are so that you can adjust your shipping fees accordingly or they're unjustly adding this brokerage fee on top of yours. I really do not like paying brokerage fees twice. :(

[mypublisher]

Hi -- MyPublisher has no control over "processing fees" or anything else imposed by Canadian couriers or the Canadian government. Some of our Canadian customers are charged $0 upon delivery, and others are charged up to $25. These fees are completely unpredictable, so we cannot adequately make any statement on our site that will give you an idea of what to expect.

I have noticed that customers are charged varying amounts depending on the location, but even then it is not possible to predict the amount. It is very frustrating for us as well, because these are not charges that MyPublisher imposes.

[corporallouis]

. . . then you are being taken advantage of and alienating Canadian customers compliments of Fedex. Like I said in a previous post, one call to Fedex from you people to get a firm grip on just what their reasoning is for these "added" money grabs would go a long way to getting this crap settled. Ordering is like Russian roulette . . maybe I'll get screwed or maybe I won't. Hell . . I'll just ask my customer for more money upon delivery because Fedex just screwed me over or maybe I should eat the charge. I'm here trying to make money . . . NOT subsidize these border bandits! You flat outright state that your shipping includes all brokerage fees . . . IT DOES NOT. You are allowing Fedex to take advantage of your Canadian customers with the addition of this "brokerage" fee . . nothing whatsoever to do with "Canadian" government duties, taxes or fees. Fedex's cash grab only . . ! What's the problem with offering U.S.P.S. shipping? It certainly can be cost recovered judging on the exorbitant shipping fees we get dinged with on arrival. Stick another couple of dollars for handling fees. It'll be a hell of a lot cheaper for us than these other clowns you use now!

[mypublisher]

Greetings, Canadians!

Fedex will charge duties, taxes and possibly a processing fee upon delivery of your books. You will not be charged a brokerage fee.

These fees are a Fedex policy and are not under MyPublisher's control. If you need a more thorough explanation I recommend that you contact Fedex directly.

[mypublisher]

Please note that a processing fee is NOT a brokerage fee. Brokerage fees are included in what you pay in shipping & handling.

If Fedex tells you that you are being charged a brokerage fee, they are not informing you correctly.

[corporallouis]

I smell a rat . . . "processing fees" is another word for rip-off Canadians. Perhaps "some" are satisfied with Fedex and their tactics as well as UPS . . . I am not. You will "never" get a straight answer from Fedex as to what they actually DO to warrant this extra fee. We are already paying shipping and brokerage fees which they get a portion of. The taxes and customs duties are as inevitable as death, but I'll be danged if I'll pay to have any of my parcels kicked and booted all the way to Canada. You will have a very good chance your parcel will arrive damaged or lost with these delivery oafs. I have no alternative but to seek alternative sources for my projects . . . :mad:

[fotojuraj]

I am in Ontario, Canada. So far I've published about 15 books. Here is my personal experience:
If the order from MP contains one book, that is not too expensive (lets say 50 pages, Classic Book), there are usually no additional fees at the Canadian border.
If the book contains close to 100 pages, then there is addional fee collected, but not always (it probably depends on a mood of brokerage clerk).
If you order 2-3 copies of the same book (now making it more expensive), the additional fees are collected.
Here are the figures from my latest 3 book order:
MP declared the value of 3 books to be $90 US.
On FedEx receipt, they used 1.29 as exchange rate (even though it is actually 1.21 today), that made Value for Duty at $116.72 Can.
Fees collected are:
Customs $0
Sima $0 ??? unknown what this is
Excise Tax $0
GST $5.84
PST $0
ROD Fee $10.00 ??? unknown what this is, but guessing "Handling Fee"
ASF $0 ??? unknown what this is
GST $0.50 probably on ROD fee above

Total collected by FedEx $16.34

My personal opinion is that some imaginary dollar figure of the book order "triggers" GST calculation (which goes to Canadian Federal Government) and that the ROD Fee is something that FedEx keeps for their trouble, providing receipt and collecting this tax.
A total Rip-Off!

[newParent]

Hmmm...it's scary that this has been going on for so long and MyPub has done nothing about it yet. Wow, are they really able to keep business using this under handed dishonest practice?